Forgot to mention about my radiator.

I went to all the trouble to make it fit, cut out the old radiator supports and got the tubing welded in place, cleaned up the mess and repainted (almost).

well, I invited cadet1200 (Andrew) over to talk about HIS problem of how HE was going to fit HIS radiator and intercooler (and stay within the engineering 'rules').

He kindly pointed out that my pipes on my EXA radiator are all wrong. Do'oh Do'OH DO'OH !!!!!

I have to go find a radiator with top and bottom tanks (not side ones) and both pipes on the drivers' side (not diagonally opposed). I am glad he told me I am not glad that i need to go looking for a new radiator. It would be perfect for an A Series motor though - FYI only

Things have been slowed up due to "honeydo's". You know what they are? .... Honey can you do this and honey can you do that....
Anyway, after some extreme tree pruning (which is done standing on the top of a tractor holding a little chainsaw at full stretch) and some mild paving (about 30 SqMtrs) I might just get some real work done.

Bit the bullet last week and decided to rip out the 1200 fuel tank. Since I would need a fuel pump and I was not willing to put an exposed pump under the car (the road gets flooded in winter and I would rather not get stuck)

So I went and bought an R31 tank (complete with inbuilt pump etc) from my favourite wreckers (Imlach's) for $52. Then went to a Nissan Wreckers and got the instrument loom for the S13 cluster gauges for $10.

Now I need to fit the tank and get stuck into the wiring

The wiring.... there seems to be sensors for sensors here. I got the S13 workshop manual off the web and have printed out most of the wiring diagrams but some of my wires don't match the colours in the manual. I am not quite pulling out my hair but having the Silvia Auto with its own computer to deal with is an extra headache. Well at least when its finished I will know a lot more for anyone else going down the same dark road.

NEW Welder.

Not the WIA 215s that I made an offer on from eBay but a Lincoln Power Mig 180c..... I got to the place where i was going to pick up the WIA and the guy talked me into the Lincoln (Talked into is a bit of an exaggeration as I wanted a Lincoln from the start, this guy just happened to have one for sale at $50 LESS than the bigger machine)

I an very happy with the 180c. Welded the supports for the R31 tank under the tray without missing a beat and with a finish, while not perfect, at least 100 times better than I could manage with the arc welder.

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nice welder, and better off with the lincon probably.

a little more progress ....

Fitted up the R31 fuel tank up under the tray behind the rear axle. It fits in there quite nicely, now just have to plumb it in up to the filler. Also went through a whole bottle of gas playing with my new welder. Anyhow, I got my plugs for the auto computer off the ECCS of a pintara (found out later that I could have got them off a VL commodore - which are common as mud).

Next thing on my plate is to re mock up the crossmember for the engine (I have only done this 3 times so far)

I decided to attach the auto flex plate with 90 lbs of tension (hope that's right) fitted up the gear box with the torque converter not sure of how much tranny fluid should go in that so filled it up and turned it on it's side till no more fluid came out again.
Next lowered the car over the motor and g/box on the floor (this is getting easier) and bolted up the g/box with my home made g/box cross member (fits on to the auto mounts).

Need to decide on a few things though ... where to run the wiring, how to fit up the air inlet but maintain the battery in the engine bay, how to fit the 120y front stabiliser without hitting the sump.

anyway, might take some pics tomorrow. I am off to sit in front of the telly while trying to remove the pins out of these plugs 6 down only 21 to go

You can space the 120y swaybar down with spacers so it doesn't hit the sump

If it hits the sump, you have sat the engine pretty low which can be a good thing for center of gravity

Did a little today while the weather was kind

I finished off grinding down the old cross-member and tacked on the plates that will form the new mounting points. Also lined up my blocks of wood (35mm thick) in place of rubber mounts to set the holes (slots) in the right place.

I also had to 'move' the front part of the passenger side mount a little as the bolt would have hit in the middle of the support


Here's too many pics

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nice work there, thick plate should pass easy, just make sure you round off the edges

You wouldn't happen to want to sell those white Peco Star steel wheels would you?

loving the s13 cluster n thinking of doing it too.. how hard is it to fit n look factory?